Customizing and Using a bosinst.data File

Installation Guide

Customizing and Using a bosinst.data File

You must install the Base Operating System (BOS) before you can access and modify the default bosinst.data file. The Web-based System Manager Renstall Base Operating System TaskGuide can be used to prepare your next installation and in customizing the bosinst.data file. This file may also be retrieved and edited like any other ASCII file. If you are editing the bosinst.data file, use one of the following procedures:

Refer to bosinst.data File Stanza Descriptions and Example bosinst.data Files for information about the contents of the file and examples of edited files. You may verify the contents of your modified bosinst.data file by using the bicheck command.

If you are customizing the /bosinst.data file in order to have it become part of a system backup (mksysb), please note that starting with AIX Version 4.3.3, the mksysb command always updates the target_disk_data stanzas to reflect the current disks in the rootvg. If you do not want this update to occur you must create the file /save_bosinst.data_file. The existance of this file is checked by the mksysb command, before the target_disk_data stanzas are updated.

Create and Use a Backup Tape

Customize the bosinst.data file:
1. Change your directory, with the cd command, to the /var/adm/ras directory.
2. Copy the /var/adm/ras/bosinst.data file to a new name, such as bosinst.data.orig. This step preserves the original bosinst.data file.
3. Edit the bosinst.data file with an ASCII editor.
4. Verify the contents of the edited bosinst.data file using the bicheck command:
```
/usr/lpp/bosinst/bicheck filename
```
5. Copy the edited file to the root directory:
```
cp /var/adm/ras/bosinst.data /bosinst.data
```
6. If you do not want the target_disk_data file updated to reflect the current rootvg, create the file /save_bosinst.date_file by using the following command:
```
touch /save_bosinst.data_file
```
Create a backup image of the system:

Back up the system, using one of the following: the Web-based System Manager Backups application, the System Management Interface Tool (SMIT), or mksysb command. Refer to Backing Up Your System for more information.

BOS installations from this backup will behave according to your customized bosinst.data file.

Create and Use a Client File

Create one customized bosinst.data file for each client and, using the Network Installation Manager (NIM), define the files as NIM resources. Refer to AIX Version 4.3 Network Installation Management Guide and Reference for more information about how to use the bosinst.data file as a resource in network installations.

Create and Use a Supplementary Diskette

This procedure describes how to create the supplementary diskette and use it in future installations:

Customize the bosinst.data file:
1. Change your directory, with the cd command, to the /var/adm/ras directory.
2. Copy the /var/adm/ras/bosinst.data file to a new name, such as bosinst.data.orig. This step preserves the original bosinst.data file.
3. Edit the bosinst.data file with an ASCII editor.
4. Create an ASCII file consisting of one word:
```
data
```
5. Save the new ASCII file, naming it signature.
Create the diskette and use it for installation:
1. Back up the edited bosinst.data file and the new signature file to diskette with the following command:
```
ls ./bosinst.data ./signature | backup -iqv
```
  OR
  
  If you create a bundle file named mybundle, back up the edited bosinst.data file, the new signature file, and the bundle file to diskette with the following command:
```
ls ./bosinst.data ./signature ./mybundle | backup -iqv
```
2. Put the diskette in the diskette drive of the target machine you are installing.
3. Boot the target machine from the install media (tape, CD-ROM, or network) and install AIX.
  
  The BOS installation program will use the diskette file, rather than the default bosinst.data file shipped with the installation media.